Linking Self-Incompatibility, Dichogamy, and Flowering Synchrony in Two Euphorbia Species: Alternative Mechanisms for Avoiding Self-Fertilization?

Background: Plant species have several mechanisms to avoid selfing such as dichogamy or a self-incompatibility response. Dichogamy in a single flower may reduce autogamy but, to avoid geitonogamy, plants must show flowering synchronization among all their flowers (i.e. synchronous dichogamy). It is hypothesized that one species would not simultaneously show synchronous dichogamy and self-incompatibility because they are redundant mechanisms to reduce selfing; however, this has not been accurately assessed. Methodology/Principal Findings: This expectation was tested over two years in two natural populations of the closely related Mediterranean spurges Euphorbia boetica and E. nicaeensis, which completely avoid autogamy by protogyny at the cyathia level. Both spurges showed a high population synchrony (Z,79), and their inflorescences flower synchronously. In E. nicaeensis, there was no overlap among the cyathia in anthesis of successive inflorescence levels and the overlap between sexual phases of cyathia of the same inflorescence level was uncommon (4–16%). In contrast, E. boetica showed a high overlap among consecutive inflorescence levels (74–93%) and between sexual phases of cyathia of the same inflorescence level (48–80%). The flowering pattern of both spurges was consistent in the two populations and over the two successive years. A hand-pollination experiment demonstrated that E. nicaeensis was strictly self-compatible whereas E. boetica was partially self-incompatible. Conclusions/Significance: We propose that the complex pattern of synchronized protogyny in E. nicaeensis prevents geitonogamous crosses and, consequently, avoids selfing and inbreeding depression. In E. boetica, a high probability of geitonogamous crosses may occur but, alternatively, this plant escapes selfing through a self-incompatibility response. We posit that synchronous dichogamy and physiological self-incompatibility do not co-occur in the same species because each process is sufficiently effective in avoiding self-fertilization.España Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología PLO CGL2005-03731; CGL2008-02533-EEspaña Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología MA CGL2009-0825

P078 Oral Appliance Fabrication Settings Impact Treatment Efficacy

Abstract Purpose Assess the impact of custom oral appliance (CA) fabrication settings on treatment outcomes. Methods CPAP-intolerant patients completed a two-night home-sleep-apnea study (HSAT); Night1=baseline, Night2=Apnea Guard® trial appliance (AG). The AG vertical-dimension-of-occlusion (VDO) selection was based on tongue-scallop (women=5.5/6.5 mm, men= 6.5/8.0 mm), with a target protrusion of 70% from neutral-maximum while in situ. Study1 CA VDO was dependent on sex (women=2.5 mm, men=5 mm), with protrusion set using a George-Gauge measured 70% from maximum retrusion-protrusion with dentist-directed titration. Study2 CA was fabricated to the AG VDO and target protrusion bite-registration. Efficacy HSATs were conducted after completion of Study1 CA titration with vertical-elastics optional, and at the AG target protrusion with vertical-elastics mandatory in Study2. Statistics included Mann-Whitney, Chi-squared, and Bland-Altman analyses. Results The Study1 (n=84) and Study2 (n=46) distributions were equivalent for tongue-scallop (64/63%) and sex (women=45/41%), however, noted differences in age (53.8±11.9 vs. 58.4±12.2; P=0.052), body-mass-index (29.4±5.7 vs. 27.8±4.0; P=0.128) and pre-treatment AHI severities (24.6±14.4 vs. 29.2±17.4 events/h; P=0.155) were observed. The Bland-Altman biases were significant different (Study1=4.2±7.8 vs. Study2=1.3±7.0 events/h, P=0.035). The significant Study1 differences between the CA vs. AG AHIs (12.3±9.2 vs. 8.2±5.9 events/h, P&amp;lt;0.0002) were not apparent in Study2 (11.7±8.0 vs. 10.4±6.7 events/h, P=0.362), however, the Study2 AG AHI values were higher (P=0.055). Discussion Despite the trend toward greater Study2 pre-treatment and AG AHI severities, CA treatment efficacy was equivalent to the AG once VMO was controlled and fabricated using the AG VDO and protrusion bite-registration. These findings confirmed CA fabrication settings impact treatment outcomes. </jats:sec

New and noteworthy species of the genus Epidendrum (Orchidaceae, Laeliinae) from the Área de Conservación Privada La Pampa del Burro, Amazonas, Peru

Fourteen species of the genus Epidendrum, recently collected in the Área de Conservación Privada La Pampa del Burro (ACPPB), five of them new to science (Epidendrum echinatiantherum sp. nov., E. imazaense sp. nov., E. parvireflexilobum sp. nov., E. rosulatum sp. nov., and E. ochrostachyum sp. nov.), are described and illustrated. The other species include a new record for Peru (E. acrobatesii) and four for the department of Amazonas (E. brachyblastum, E. forcipatum, E. mavrodactylon, and E. tridens). Epidendrum enantilobum is here considered a synonym of Epidendrum brachyblastum. The type locality of Epidendrum cryptorhachis, originally stated as Ecuador, Guayabamba, is corrected to indicate that it refers to the valley of Guayabamba, Rodríguez de Mendoza, Amazonas, Peru. Our results show the need to continue conducting botanical exploration in the ACPPB as a baseline for subsequent studies, including a full inventory of the orchid diversity

Biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Campo Rupestre: A road map for the sustainability of the hottest Brazilian biodiversity hotspot

Global sustainability rests on a myriad of benefits provided by natural ecosystems that support human livelihoods and well-being, from biodiversity persistence to climate regulation. The undeniable importance of conserving tropical forests has drawn most of the conservation spotlight towards it. However, open ecosystems such as the Brazilian Campo Rupestre (rupestrian grassland), have been historically overlooked despite their high diversity and key associated ecosystem services. We highlight major current threats to the persistence of the Campo Rupestre emphasizing its ecological, social, cultural, geo-environmental, and economic importance. We call attention to the importance of the Campo Rupestre as a reservoir of biodiversity and ecosystem services and offer priority actions that resulted from discussions involving scientists, industry representatives, environmental managers, and other members of civil society. Proposed actions include efforts related to ecological restoration, sustainable ecotourism, protection of traditional ecological knowledge, identification of emerging research questions, and development of tailored public policies. Such issues are integrated into a framework that collectively represents a road map to safeguard the Campo Rupestre from further degradation and steer its historical overexploitation towards sustainable management. Safeguarding the future of non-forest biomes like this poses a challenge to current paradigms of nature conservation. By establishing priorities and guidelines, we propose an actionable plan, which we hope can support informed decision-making policy towards a sustainable use of the Campo Rupestre.Lab. de Ecologia Evolutiva e Biodiversidade Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Centro de Bioengenharia de Espécies Invasoras (CBEIH)Lab. de Ecologia de Populações Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Instituto de Estudos do Xingu Universidade Federal do Sul e Sudeste do ParáLab. de Ecologia Funcional de Plantas Departamento de Biologia Vegetal Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)Institute of Soil Science and Land Evaluation University of HohenheimKaipora – Laboratório de Estudos Bioculturais - Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG)Simetria Meio Ambiente e EngenhariaUniversidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)Department of Plant Biology and Ecology University of SevilleSchool of Biological Sciences University of Western AustraliaDepartamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Norte de Minas Gerais (IFNMG)Lab. de Ecologia de Bentos Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Departamento de Solos e Nutrição de Plantas Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)Departamento de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana (UEFS)Lab. de Herpetologia Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Telos Brabant Centre for Sustainable Development Tilburg UniversityDpto. de Ecologia Universidade de Brasília (UnB)Dpto. de Biologia Geral Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)Department of Biology and Woods Institute for the Environment Stanford UniversityDpto. de Biologia Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA)Lab. de Sistemática Vegetal Depto. de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)School of Earth and Sustainability Northern Arizona UniversityLab. de Biossistemática e Sistemática Molecular de Plantas Departamento de Botânica/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Independent Environmental Consultant and Nature PhotographerLab. de Biogeografia e Climatologia Departamento de Geografia/IGC Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Centro de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Universidade de BrasíliaLab. de Ecologia e Evolução de Plantas Tropicais Departamento de Botânica Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Departamento de Botânica/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Lab. de Ecofisiologia Vegetal Departamento de Biodiversidade Evolução e Meio Ambiente/ICEB Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP)Lab. de Ecologia e Evolução de Plantas Depto. de Biologia Vegetal Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)Centro de Síntese Ecológica e Conservação Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Artemis AmbientalLab. de Fenologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP)Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e Saúde Centro Universitário UNAAgroflor Engenharia e Meio AmbienteLab. de Ecologia de Insetos (LEI) Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Bioma Meio AmbienteInstituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio)Norman B. Keevil Institute of Mining Engineering University of British Columbia (UBC)Lab. de Cartografia Departamento de Geografia Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina (UESC)Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia (EMBRAPA)Departamento de Genética Ecologia e Evolução/ICB Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Departamento de Cartografia/IGC Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG)Centro de Ciências Biológicas Departamento de Botânica Universidade Federal de PernambucoAnglo-AmericanDepartamento de Biologia Animal Entomologia. Universidade Federal de Viçosa (UFV)Lab. de Fenologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP